Faith-aligned givers have long been at the forefront of efforts to combat poverty in Asia.
The first of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), poverty alleviation is a critical social concern prioritised by the global community. As the most fundamental and pervasive challenge facing humanity, alleviating poverty is both essential and extremely challenging. Its multidimensional nature—where economic deprivation intersects with issues of health, education, social exclusion, and systemic inequality—means that any setback can have terrible repercussions. For example, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is estimated that an additional 67.8 million individuals in Asia were pushed into extreme poverty. As of 2023, 155 million people in developing Asia persist in extreme poverty, earning less than USD 2.15 per day.
Poverty is a daunting obstacle that is difficult for any single entity or intervention to solve. It demands cross-sectoral efforts. Faith-aligned organisations have long addressed poverty alleviation as a core part of their mission and practice. Rooted in values of compassion, service, and dignity, they demonstrate the power of poverty alleviation strategies that empower individuals and communities, foster resilience, and create systemic change.
Through their extensive networks and community-centric approaches, they are well-positioned to create both immediate impact and forge sustainable pathways out of poverty. This document aims to serve as a resource for faith-aligned philanthropists and investors to identify allies, both similarly faith-aligned or otherwise, in their journey to eradicating poverty in Asia and beyond.
It explores how faith—and the principles, values and belief systems that underpin it—has driven the practices of faith-aligned organisations by surfacing real-life case examples of those active in Asia.
